Wiring and the like clip device



Jan. 25, 1944. H. J. MURPHY WIRING AND THE LIKE CLIP DEVICE Filed June26, 1942 Inve 21207;

Ha ward elm??? 53' Patented Jan. 25, 1944 WIRING AND THE LIKE CLIPDEVICE Howard J. Murphy, Greenwood, Mass, assignor to United-CarrFastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of MassachusettsApplication June 26, 1942. Serial No. 448,694

9 Claims.

formed from a single piece of sheet metal and which may be mounted insnap fastener engagement with an apertured support.

Illustrative of the invention, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawing showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in whichFig. 1 is a top plan view of a strand or wire retainer according to theinvention;

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation illustrating the retainer mounted on asupport;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the retainer per se:

Fig. 4 is an edge elevation thereof; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 2 illustrating alternative modesof grouping a plurality of conductors in the retainer,

Referring to the illustrated embodiment shown in the drawing, theinvention comprises a retainer formed with opposed channel-shapedreceiving portions separated by a central web, which is provided withintegral snap fastener means for attaching the retainer to an aperturedsupport, the web having an elastic band or strap secured thereto forembracing a plurality of strands under tension.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the retainer mayadvantageously be formed of a single strip of sheet metal, the oppositeend portions of which are shaped to channel form, as at l0, presenting aweb II and upper and base flanges l2 and I3, respectively. The twochannel-shaped portions l0 are preferably connected together by anintermediate strip ll of less width so that the lower flanges I3 may bedisposed on opposite sides of the strip M. The strip M is bent on itselfto provide a nose portion i5 with sides connecting the nose and webportions II, said sides having diver-gent portions l6 and convergentportions l1 presenting an outward bow or bulge l8 spaced below theflanges II.

The intermediate or connecting portion thus formed provides a snapfastener means for readily attaching the retainer to a support I whichis formed with an aperture 2. As will be apparent from Fig. 2, the noseprotion l5 provides a ready means for forcing the snap fastener portionthrough the aperture of the support, and, when the retainer is in itsfully afilxed position, the opposite faces of the support I are engagedby the base flanges l3 and bowed portions l8. Preferably the lowerflanges I3 are downwardly inclined as shown, so that the ends or feetperifs tions thereof engage the adjacent surface of the support inplanes spaced beyond the bowed portions l8, thus providing a tensionalgripping effeet between the ends and bowed portions.

An elastic strap or band 20 is suitably connected to one of the webportions II and preferably the web portions H are formed with elongatedslots 22 through which. an end of the band 20 may be inserted. The otherend of the band may be formed with a stop 2| formed in any suitable way,as by a thickened part of the band 20, to prevent the band from beingpulled entirely through the slots 22.

The end portions of the upper flanges may be formed with suitablefastening means for the band, and conveniently these fastening means 23may be in the form of opensided or T-slots into which an intermediatepart of the stretched band, 20 may be hooked.

In use, the retainer is snapped into position on an aperturecl support,as above described, and the elastic band 20 is drawn through the slot 22until the stop 2! engages the opposite webs H. A group of strands, suchas electrical conductors.

; may be assembled in one of the channels HI and the elastic band thusstretched and extended around the group of strands to engage them undertension. An intermediate portion of the band may be hooked in each ofthe T-slots, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, or may be passed around the endof the upper flange I 2 of the receiving channel and hooked into theopposite slot 23, as shown in Fig. 6.

The upper flanges l2 may be upwardly sloping so as to present a valleyin which an additional group of conductors may be retained as shown inFig. 6.

The invention provides an efllcient retainer of extremely simpleconstruction which will effectively hold one or more separated groups ofstrands in secure position. It will be clear that the strap isreversible in the web portions H so that a group of strands may bepositioned in either channel HI.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited thereby, because the scope of myinvention is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A strand-retainer comprising opposed channel-shaped strand-receivingportions having an intermediate web, fastener means formed as acontinuation of the web and extending below said channel-receivingportion, an elastic strap secured at one end to said web, said retainerhaving a strap-receiving opening in another part thereof, said strapbeing stretchable to embrace a plurality of strands grouped in one ofsaid channels to hold said strands in place, and an a ring astrap-receiving opening in another part thereof, said strap beingstretchable to embrace a plurality of strands grouped in one of saidchannels to hold said strands in place, and an intermediate portion Ofthe strap being hooked into said strap-receiving opening.

3. A strand-retainer comprising opposed channel-shaped strand-receivingportions, each having upper and lower flanges and an intermediate webportion, snap fastener means formed as a continuation of the web andextending below said i channel-receiving portion, each of said webportions being formed with an elongated slot, an elastic strap extendingthrough said slots, and at least one of the upper flanges having astrapreceiving opening, said strap being stretchable to embrace aplurality of strands grouped in one of said channels and holding saidstrands in place, and an intermediate portion of said strap being hookedinto said strap-receiving opening.

4. A strand-retainer formed of a, single piece of sheet metal bentintermediate its ends to provide a U-shaped snap fastener, means forattaching said retainer to an apertured support, a strand-receivingchannel connected to at least one leg (if said U-shaped fastener means,said receiving channel comprising a web portion formed as a continuationof said fastener leg and an upper flange portion extending angularlythereto, a base flange extendin angularly from said web on oppositesides of said fastener leg, said strand-receiving channel being adaptedto receive a plurality of strands therein, and an elastic band securedat one end to said retainer for engaging said grouped strands undertension, and means for locking an intermediate portion of said band tohold it in tensioned engagement with said strands.

5. A strand-retainer formed of a single piece of sheet metal bentintermediate its ends to provide a U-shaped snap fastener means forattaching said retainer to an apertured support, a strandreceivingchannel connected to at least one leg of said U-shaped fastener means,said receiving channel comprising a web portion formed as a continuationof said fastener leg and an upper flange portion extending angularlythereto, a base flange extending angularly from said web on oppositesides of said fastener leg, said strandreceiving channel being adaptedto receive a plurality of strands therein, said upper flange beingformed with a T-slot near its outer edge, an elastic band secured at oneend to another portion of said channel spaced from said T-slot, saidstrap being stretchable to engage said grouped strands under tensionbetween its attached end and the T-slot in which it is secured.

6. A strand-retainer formed of a single piece of sheet material bentintermediate its ends to form a U-shaped snap fastener attaching meansfor attaching said retainer to an apertured support, a strand-receivingchannel connected to each of the legs of said U-shaped attaching meansand each including a web portion formed as continuations of the legs ofsaid U, each of said channels also comprising upper and base flangesextending angularly to their respective web portions, said Web portionsbeing formed with T- slots near their terminal edges, and an elasticstrip anchored in said web slots and adapted to embrace a plurality ofstrands grouped in at least one of said channels, a portion of the strapbeyond said strands being hooked in a T-slot for retaining the strap intensioned engagement with said strands.

'1, A strand-retainer formed of a single piece of sheet material bentintermediate its ends to form a U-shaped snap fastener attaching meansfor attaching said retainer to an apertured support, a strand-receivingchannel connected to each of the legs of said U-shaped attaching meansand each including a web portion formed as continuations of the legs ofsaid U, each of said channels also comprising upper and base flangesextending angularly to their respective web portions, said base flangesengaging said support at their ends and cooperating with said U-shapedfastener means to securely hold said retainer in position on saidsupport, said Web portions being icrmed with aligned slots and saidflanges being icrrned with T-slots near their terminal edges, and anelastic strap anchored in said web slots and adapted to embrace aplurality of strands grouped in at least one of said channels, a porticnof the strap beyond said strands being hooked in a T-slot for retainingthe strap in tensioned engagement with said strands.

8. A strand-retainer formed of a single piece of sheet material bentintermediate its ends to form a U-shaped snap fastener attaching meansfor attaching said retainer to an apertured support, a strand-receivingchannel connected to each of the legs of said U-shaped attaching meansand each including a web portion formed as continuatlons of the legs ofsaid U, each of said channels also comprising upper and base flangesextending angularly to their respective web portions, said web portionsbeing formed with aligned slots, and said flanges being formed withT-slots near their terminal edges, and an elastic strap insertablethrough said web slots and adapted to embrace a plurality of strandsgrouped in at least one of said channels, a portion of the strap beyondsaid strands being booked in a T-slot for retaining the strap intensioned engagement with said strands.

9. A strand-retainer formed of a single piece of sheet material bentintermediate its ends to form a U-shaped snap fastener attaching meansfor attaching said retainer to an apertured support, a strand-receivingchannel connected to each of the legs of said U-shaped attaching meansand each including a Web portion formed as continuations of the legs ofsaid U, each of said channels also comprising upper and base flangesextending angularly to their respective web portions, said web portionsbeing formed with aligned slots, and said flanges being formed withT-slots near their terminal edges, and an elastic strap anchored in saidweb slots and adapted to embrace a plurality of strands grouped in atleast one of said channels and on the outer surface of said upperflanges, a portion of the strap beyond said strands being hooked in aT-slot for retaining the strap in tensioned engagement with saidstrands.

HOWARD J. MURPHY.

